Facts about the industry:

  • Approximately 10 million people in the UK are affected by hearing loss.
  • 1 in 6 people are affected by hearing loss.
  • 6.5 million of the people with hearing loss are aged 60 and over.
  • 3.7 million are below the retirement age.
  • Approximately 2 million people use hearing aids in the UK.
  • About 800,000 people of the 10 million are severely or profoundly deaf.
  • Lots of people who experience hearing loss also have tinnitus which makes balance for the person difficult.
  • About a third of all people aged 70+ have hearing loss.

 

The following figures demonstrate the number of communication services available to the deaf and of hearing.

  • There are an estimated 50,000 people who use British Sign Language as their first or preferred language.
  • The ratio of interpreters (including trainees) to sign language users is 1 to 156.
  • The ratio of fully-qualified interpreters to sign language users is 1 to 275.
  • Two Million people with hearing aids.
  • 1.4 million people who use them regularly.
  • Four million people who it is thought could benefit from a hearing aid.
  • There are 921 hearing dogs that have been trained by Hearing for Deaf People.